Working Hunter

[marley and danni]

what are the general rules for working hunter?

last season when i competed locally at a small show i was places 1st but only due to an elimination by fall of rider.

but in this class she marked me down for clipping a pole, but hadnt knocked it. is this the normal?

also in the same class the judge kindly spoke to both me and the other competitor. the mare was very forward going but really pinged the fences and was a little to fast at times. her show was brilliant and foot perfect.

my round was a slower canter more like a show canter but we didnt knock any of have any run outs. my own show was great canter a little more forward but did it correct.

the judge said i would have placed 1st even if other copetitior wasnt eliminated. But mentioned i needed a more forward canter round the course and i needed to show a gallop in my show, is this what most judges are looking for?

she mention to the other competitor that her mare was more suited to show jumping but had amazing paces (warmblood breeding)

she said my TB had the temprement for working hunter and he enjoys it and finds is easy.

please help me get best out of this season! id like to win in a bigger class

 

[MissSBird]

but in this class she marked me down for clipping a pole, but hadnt knocked it. is this the normal?

Not normal, but I don't see an issue with it. I would assume that the judge is thinking along the lines of, if this was a solid fence, could the horse have had a fall? Rememeber the judge is looking at this from the point of view of 'is the horse suitable for hunting'. You don't want a careless hunter...


also in the same class the judge kindly spoke to both me and the other competitor. the mare was very forward going but really pinged the fences and was a little to fast at times. her show was brilliant and foot perfect.

my round was a slower canter more like a show canter but we didnt knock any of have any run outs. my own show was great canter a little more forward but did it correct.

the judge said i would have placed 1st even if other copetitior wasnt eliminated. But mentioned i needed a more forward canter round the course and i needed to show a gallop in my show, is this what most judges are looking for?


Absoloutly. Again, this is a hunter class, not a showjumping class. You're expected to tackle the course at a hunter pace, not a showjumpers canter. You must show a gallop (or extension if there is a lack of room) in hunter classes, as the judge wants to see that your horse will go and stop when asked - again a necessity for a suitable hunter.


It sounds like the judge was pretty spot on with the advice they were giving you. If you're really serious about it, see if you can find a showing producer locally and get some lessons! Also, go to the really big shows (HOYS qualifiers etc.) and watch the working hunters. See what the best are doing and try to emulate it

Good luck this season!

 

[MiaBella]

Working hunter classes are expected to be ridden at hunting pace (or certainly faster than a steady show jumping round would be). The horse should travel forwards and jump the fences cleanly. The horse should be polite and not pull but still be bold into the fences, it should be balanced and travel within itself. It should look smooth and unflustered.

There should be a style mark awarded for the jumping phase - this means that in theory if you jump round clear but the horse doesn't jump well it could be beaten by one that jumps more smoothly and in better style but has a rail down.

If there are many entries it might be that only clear rounds (or clears and four faulters) will be called back in for the show part

The class should then go round together, in walk to start, then trot and canter, with a change of rein, canter on the other rein and then gallop up a long side (all this will be directed and managed by the steward who will tell you when to change pace etc and where to show the gallop).

The class should then be called into line. Depending on the show the judge may ride or will ask you to do a show. In this show you should show trot and canter on both reins and a gallop, coming back to a nice halt at the end. The judge is looking for a horse that could hunt all day, so be light in the rein, balanced in itself and with smooth ground covering gaits (which is where the TB part comes into play), respond nicely to aids to go and stop. There should be a mark awarded for the ridden/show section.

Then the strip, where the saddle is removed. The judge will look at the horse's conformation - looking for anything that would reduce its ability to work as a hunter (so any conformation defects that might put extra stress or strain on limbs and thus increase the likliehood of lameness). The horse should be led away in walk and trotted back and past the judge in a straightline (again checking for movement and straightness). The judge will also look at the type of the horse and how well it fits the description of a hunter.
There will be another mark for conformation.

The marks from the jumping (style mark and any faults from the jumping round deducted), from the ridden/show part and the conformation will then be added up and the horse with most marks wins. (The judge may ask you to walk round whilst steward adds everything up).

 

[marley and danni]

hi thanks for taking the time to write these replies i appreciate them so much advice i understand the rules a bit better now thanks!

hes more forward to a fence now so this season should be a little better i want to do well in this area and i love jumping but i am not a show jumper, not yet at least and i like the show element.

thanks so much!!